God's love is unconditional, not conditional

[Heidi]

Those of you who know God know that his love is unconditional, not conditional. "It does not therefore depend on man's own desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We can do nothing to save ourselves which is exactly why Christ died. It is He who saved us, not ourselves. That is why Jesus said he will never abandon us, nor does our salvation depend on anything we do or God's love would be conditional. But those of you who say our slavation can be taken back are saying that God's love is conditional, which it is not. Christ's death cannot be taken back. "It is finished." All we have to do is believe that and we will be saved. But sadly, many on this forum do not.

 

[Orthodoxy]

Those of you who know God know that his love is unconditional, not conditional. "It does not therefore depend on man's own desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We can do nothing to save ourselves which is exactly why Christ died. It is He who saved us, not ourselves. That is why Jesus said he will never abandon us, nor does our salvation depend on anything we do or God's love would be conditional. But those of you who say our slavation can be taken back are saying that God's love is conditional, which it is not. Christ's death cannot be taken back. "It is finished." All we have to do is believe that and we will be saved. But sadly, many on this forum do not.

Well yes unless your an infant or unable to say "yes" to Jesus then does God love ya? :-?

How about our love for God? Are we required to love God?

God's love is unconditional if we say yes to Him?

God's love is unconditional if we say no to Him?

I totally agree God is Love. In this love is a burning unquenchable flame. Is it possible that nothing can seperate a person from the burning fire of God's love but it is man's sin and hate for that love that holds him in hell?

Would it not be hell to sit in the fire of God's love hating it and burning in it?

What was finished?

The cross was not the end of God's work in the salvation of man. The cross forgave sin setting up the event of the resurrection to give life. God cleared the deck concerning sin at the cross to allow the life giving resurrection to take place.

What was finished on the cross is the earthly work of Jesus Christ in the forgiveness of sin. "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do" finished sins hold upon humanities soul preparing the way for resurrected life.

Why does the protestant faith insist the salvation of man was finished at a cross when there is an "empty tomb"? :smt102

Half a gospel is no gospel at all.

Orthodoxy

 

[Heidi]

Those of you who know God know that his love is unconditional, not conditional. "It does not therefore depend on man's own desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We can do nothing to save ourselves which is exactly why Christ died. It is He who saved us, not ourselves. That is why Jesus said he will never abandon us, nor does our salvation depend on anything we do or God's love would be conditional. But those of you who say our slavation can be taken back are saying that God's love is conditional, which it is not. Christ's death cannot be taken back. "It is finished." All we have to do is believe that and we will be saved. But sadly, many on this forum do not.

Well yes unless your an infant or unable to say "yes" to Jesus then does God love ya? :-?

How about our love for God? Are we required to love God?

God's love is unconditional if we say yes to Him?

God's love is unconditional if we say no to Him?

I totally agree God is Love. In this love is a burning unquenchable flame. Is it possible that nothing can seperate a person from the burning fire of God's love but it is man's sin and hate for that love that holds him in hell?

Would it not be hell to sit in the fire of God's love hating it and burning in it?

What was finished?

The cross was not the end of God's work in the salvation of man. The cross forgave sin setting up the event of the resurrection to give life. God cleared the deck concerning sin at the cross to allow the life giving resurrection to take place.

What was finished on the cross is the earthly work of Jesus Christ in the forgiveness of sin. "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do" finished sins hold upon humanities soul preparing the way for resurrected life.

Why does the protestant faith insist the salvation of man was finished at a cross when there is an "empty tomb"? :smt102

Half a gospel is no gospel at all.

Orthodoxy

"Required" to love God??? Again, which would you prefer; that your wife was required to love you or that she genuinely loves you? :o

Love isn't a requirement, it is a response from our hearts for what God did for us! That's why when love is involved, it takes no effort and shouldn't even be considered work!

Trying to "muster up" love comes from someone who really doesn't love but has to mae an effort to. This again is what the Pharisees did, Orthodoxy. Again, "for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."

You are also saying that God's love is conditional again. Sorry, but it is a free gift. He doesn't take it back if we don't do what He wants. That is conditional love. That is also human love, not God's love.

But it doesn't appear that you understand the nature of love. It isn't forced, it comes from thankfulness. But how can you be thankful if you don't believe Jesus saved you? :o You cannot.

Well, if you think salvation wasn't finished at the cross, then you are up a creek without a paddle because you will never be perfect enough to save yourself. Sorry. And to think you will be is the sin of pride at its peak. It is also a deception.

 

[Orthodoxy]

Heidi,

"Required" to love God???

Yes. Luke 10:25-28, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:36-38.

But hey what does Jesus know. Look at that a bumper sticker "what does Jesus know?" Are commands requirements? Apparently not in the protestant faith that gives lip service to the King of Glory.

Again, which would you prefer; that your wife was required to love you or that she genuinely loves you? :o

The Church is nothing like my wife. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. My wife is good at finding my many faults and sheding the light of grace upon them unto my ever budding humility. No the love of God transends what I want, fact is His love falls upon me in the same manner it falls upon a non orthodox believer as yourself. His ever purifying fire rains on all men, saved or unsaved. Who can escape the love of God?

Love isn't a requirement, it is a response from our hearts for what God did for us!

OK. Yes, you are right I used the wrong word. Please forgive me. Command. That is the word I wanted to use. Commandment. Is that better?

That's why when love is involved, it takes no effort and shouldn't even be considered work!

That is why my pearls are not works.

Trying to "muster up" love comes from someone who really doesn't love but has to mae an effort to. This again is what the Pharisees did, Orthodoxy. Again, "for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."

You are right and I confess I cannot love. I know not how to love in the boundless mercies of God. I am unable to love my wife much less my neighbor. God's love is so far beyond my ability that I am a speck of dust in the void of space seeing God's love from a distance to far to speak. I am also bitter. I something think I love my sin more than God. So you got me. I cannot love as God does. May God grant me the grace to love with His boundless mercies and grace. Let it be so.

You are also saying that God's love is conditional again. Sorry, but it is a free gift. He doesn't take it back if we don't do what He wants. That is conditional love. That is also human love, not God's love.

No. I am saying you are making God's grace conditional to infants and those that cannot "speak nor believe" the name Jesus Christ. You are the one that has set a barrier against God's grace that rejects those that have not heard of Jesus Christ not I. I believe God can save whom ever He pleases and I set no limits to God's mercy. Fact is if I am chief of the sinners and He will save me then where does that leave you or any other none orthodox person?

But it doesn't appear that you understand the nature of love. It isn't forced, it comes from thankfulness. But how can you be thankful if you don't believe Jesus saved you? :o You cannot.

Here again you assume I am not thankful in all things, good or bad. Everything God places before me is for my salvation and only that purpose alone. How can I not be thankful? Everything I am in my being and all the exterior events in my life are there for one purpose and one purpose alone, God is saving me.

You cannot steal that fact so stop trying.

Well, if you think salvation wasn't finished at the cross, then you are up a creek without a paddle because you will never be perfect enough to save yourself. Sorry. And to think you will be is the sin of pride at its peak. It is also a deception.

When did I say I could be perfect enough to save myself? I never said that, Heidi, not once, nor have I said any of my pearls save me.

God transends time thus I am being saved at all times, even after death I will "labor to be found acceptable". God over sees the entire timeline not just the Cross. The cross is the marker between the old and new. I see salvation as an eternal quest to know God in and out of the timeline. However, the point in time where I said yes to Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham crusade in 1969, was the point on the time line where I "picked up my cross to follow Him" however much I dropped my cross and sat on my fanny between then and becoming an orthodox Christian.

I am commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to love my enemies, do good to those that hate me, bless them that curse me, pray for those that use me and give to others without hope of return.

I am also commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in love to turn the other cheek and give those that rob me, my coat is needed. Commanded to give without limit when asked, and if a thief steals from me I cannot go after that which he has stolen.

I am again commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to treat others as I would have them treat me. I am commanded to judge not because if I judge then I will be judged. I am commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy on all because God is merciful to me. I am not allowed by command to condemn anyone because if I condemn anyone I will be condemned.

And this is why I, the chief of all sinners, will not be saved before you.

God says to forgive to be forgiven. Luke 7:27-49.

So you are right, I fail misreabily in all ways, a sinner am I.

I do not love God because I do not keep His commandment. Woe unto my unworthy soul.

No Theosis without Kenosis. Saint Anthony the Great

"no being like Jesus Christ without self emptying"

Something we all strive for in this life, a walk of faith towards salvation.

Unworthy servant,

Orthodoxy

 

[Heidi]

Heidi,

"Required" to love God???

Yes. Luke 10:25-28, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:36-38.

But hey what does Jesus know. Look at that a bumper sticker "what does Jesus know?" Are commands requirements? Apparently not in the protestant faith that gives lip service to the King of Glory.

[quote:34b0b]Again, which would you prefer; that your wife was required to love you or that she genuinely loves you? :o

The Church is nothing like my wife. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. My wife is good at finding my many faults and sheding the light of grace upon them unto my ever budding humility. No the love of God transends what I want, fact is His love falls upon me in the same manner it falls upon a non orthodox believer as yourself. His ever purifying fire rains on all men, saved or unsaved. Who can escape the love of God?

Love isn't a requirement, it is a response from our hearts for what God did for us!

OK. Yes, you are right I used the wrong word. Please forgive me. Command. That is the word I wanted to use. Commandment. Is that better?

That's why when love is involved, it takes no effort and shouldn't even be considered work!

That is why my pearls are not works.

Trying to "muster up" love comes from someone who really doesn't love but has to mae an effort to. This again is what the Pharisees did, Orthodoxy. Again, "for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."

You are right and I confess I cannot love. I know not how to love in the boundless mercies of God. I am unable to love my wife much less my neighbor. God's love is so far beyond my ability that I am a speck of dust in the void of space seeing God's love from a distance to far to speak. I am also bitter. I something think I love my sin more than God. So you got me. I cannot love as God does. May God grant me the grace to love with His boundless mercies and grace. Let it be so.

You are also saying that God's love is conditional again. Sorry, but it is a free gift. He doesn't take it back if we don't do what He wants. That is conditional love. That is also human love, not God's love.

No. I am saying you are making God's grace conditional to infants and those that cannot "speak nor believe" the name Jesus Christ. You are the one that has set a barrier against God's grace that rejects those that have not heard of Jesus Christ not I. I believe God can save whom ever He pleases and I set no limits to God's mercy. Fact is if I am chief of the sinners and He will save me then where does that leave you or any other none orthodox person?

But it doesn't appear that you understand the nature of love. It isn't forced, it comes from thankfulness. But how can you be thankful if you don't believe Jesus saved you? :o You cannot.

Here again you assume I am not thankful in all things, good or bad. Everything God places before me is for my salvation and only that purpose alone. How can I not be thankful? Everything I am in my being and all the exterior events in my life are there for one purpose and one purpose alone, God is saving me.

You cannot steal that fact so stop trying.

Well, if you think salvation wasn't finished at the cross, then you are up a creek without a paddle because you will never be perfect enough to save yourself. Sorry. And to think you will be is the sin of pride at its peak. It is also a deception.

When did I say I could be perfect enough to save myself? I never said that, Heidi, not once, nor have I said any of my pearls save me.

God transends time thus I am being saved at all times, even after death I will "labor to be found acceptable". God over sees the entire timeline not just the Cross. The cross is the marker between the old and new. I see salvation as an eternal quest to know God in and out of the timeline. However, the point in time where I said yes to Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham crusade in 1969, was the point on the time line where I "picked up my cross to follow Him" however much I dropped my cross and sat on my fanny between then and becoming an orthodox Christian.

I am commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to love my enemies, do good to those that hate me, bless them that curse me, pray for those that use me and give to others without hope of return.

I am also commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in love to turn the other cheek and give those that rob me, my coat is needed. Commanded to give without limit when asked, and if a thief steals from me I cannot go after that which he has stolen.

I am again commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to treat others as I would have them treat me. I am commanded to judge not because if I judge then I will be judged. I am commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy on all because God is merciful to me. I am not allowed by command to condemn anyone because if I condemn anyone I will be condemned.

And this is why I, the chief of all sinners, will not be saved before you.

God says to forgive to be forgiven. Luke 7:27-49.

So you are right, I fail misreabily in all ways, a sinner am I.

I do not love God because I do not keep His commandment. Woe unto my unworthy soul.

No Theosis without Kenosis. Saint Anthony the Great

"no being like Jesus Christ without self emptying"

Something we all strive for in this life, a walk of faith towards salvation.

Unworthy servant,

Orthodoxy[/quote:34b0b]

All I can say, Orthodoxy, is that I'm sorry you have no idea what unconditional love is. It is the greatest love that exists because it is unlike conditional human love. Uncondtional love has no strings attached. It is a free gift that the NT talks about all over the place.

So again, you are up a creek without a paddle because you will never be perfect enough to save yourself. I'm sorry you reject the only one who can save you. But as I said before, I will no longer argue with Pharisees. You've been told enough who saved you. And since you don't believe it now, I doubt that you ever will. Therefore, conversing with you about this is a complete waste of my time. I'll continue to pray for you.

 

[cubedbee]

Those of you who know God know that his love is unconditional, not conditional. "It does not therefore depend on man's own desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We can do nothing to save ourselves which is exactly why Christ died. It is He who saved us, not ourselves. That is why Jesus said he will never abandon us, nor does our salvation depend on anything we do or God's love would be conditional. But those of you who say our slavation can be taken back are saying that God's love is conditional, which it is not. Christ's death cannot be taken back. "It is finished." All we have to do is believe that and we will be saved. But sadly, many on this forum do not.

I agree that God's love is unconditional. We can do nothing do save ourselves, and Christ has died to save us all. However, you listed a condition. Don't condemn others for believing in conditional love of God when you yourself also do so.

 

[Heidi]

Those of you who know God know that his love is unconditional, not conditional. "It does not therefore depend on man's own desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We can do nothing to save ourselves which is exactly why Christ died. It is He who saved us, not ourselves. That is why Jesus said he will never abandon us, nor does our salvation depend on anything we do or God's love would be conditional. But those of you who say our slavation can be taken back are saying that God's love is conditional, which it is not. Christ's death cannot be taken back. "It is finished." All we have to do is believe that and we will be saved. But sadly, many on this forum do not.

I agree that God's love is unconditional. We can do nothing do save ourselves, and Christ has died to save us all. However, you listed a condition. Don't condemn others for believing in conditional love of God when you yourself also do so.

I'm assuming that the condition to which you're referring is belief. Is that correct? If so, then that is not a condition. It comes from receiving the Holy Spirit which confirms Paul's words that faith is a gift from God, not a condition.

In addition, if we don't have faith, then God does not take his love away because we never received it in the first place! And if it is even possible to have true faith then walk away from it, God still doesn't take Christ's death back. "It is finished." We have simply stopped believing it. So God's love is still offered to all who want it. That will never go away because it is unconditional love. Those who believe it will rely on Christ for their salvation which produces real fruits. Those who do not are, as I said, up a creek without a paddle.